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Is Aligarh The New Joshimath?

Joshimath

According to the locals of the Uttar Pradesh city, a pipeline laid under the governmentโ€™s Smart City initiative is now leaking, leading to cracks.

Amid the Joshimath panic, cracks have appeared in five houses in Aligarhโ€™s Kanwariganj area, triggering panic among locals in another BJP-ruled state (Uttar Pradesh ). Hundreds of families in the state near the Himalayas are at risk of being homeless this chilling winter.

โ€œOver the last several days, cracks have appeared in some of our houses due to which we are living in panic. We have complained about it but the municipal corporation authorities are not taking any concrete actions and are only giving assurances. We are afraid that the houses may collapse,โ€ Shashi, a local, said news channel India Today.

Also Read:Uttarakhand: Joshimath Authorities Mark 86 Homes As Unsafe

According to the locals of the Uttar Pradesh city, a pipeline laid under the governmentโ€™s Smart City initiative is now leaking, leading to cracks.

โ€œIt has been almost four days. We have informed the relevant departments, but no assistance has been provided so far. We are being forced to live in terror,โ€ said Afsha Mashroor, another local.

Taking cognizance of the cracks in the houses, the civic bodyโ€™s team arrived with bulldozers in the night. The chief engineer, Satish Chandra, asked the affected houses to be evacuated immediately over security concerns.

Chandra said that the cracks in the houses are a result of a crack under the road. Residents have been asked to vacate their houses, he added.

The municipal corporation has blocked the underground drain for now and said action will be taken against those who choked the flow of the drain.

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โ€œJournalism cannot be prosecuted as โ€˜terrorismโ€™โ€ say Press groups to CJI

Zaina Afzal Kutty
these organizations vehemently asserted that "Journalism cannot be prosecuted as โ€˜terrorismโ€™" and appealed to the Chief Justice to "take immediate action before it's too late."

Journalism has long been considered the bedrock of our democracy. However, recent events have cast a shadow on this foundational pillar, prompting 16 media organizations to collectively address Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud. In their urgent letter dated October 3rd, these organizations vehemently asserted that โ€œJournalism cannot be prosecuted as โ€˜terrorismโ€™โ€ and appealed to the Chief Justice to โ€œtake immediate action before itโ€™s too late.โ€

The genesis of this outcry stems from the alarming incident on October 3rd when the Special Cell of the Delhi police conducted extensive raids on the residences of 46 journalists, editors, writers, and professionals, all seemingly associated with the online news portal, NewsClick. Following these raids, NewsClickโ€™s editor-in-chief, Prabir Purkayastha, and human resources head, Amit Chakravarty, were apprehended by the Delhi Police under severe sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The raids culminated in the confiscation of their mobile phones and laptops, raising serious concerns about press freedom.

The letter to the Chief Justice passionately implores the judiciary to intervene and establish clear guidelines โ€œto deter the arbitrary seizure of journalistsโ€™ phones and laptops, a trend that has unfortunately become prevalent.โ€ It fervently advocates for specific protocols regarding the interrogation of journalists and the confiscation of their possessions โ€œto ensure these actions are rooted in genuine suspicions, not conducted as aimless explorations with no basis in reality.โ€

Moreover, the letter emphasizes the need for the court to explore avenues ensuring the accountability of state agencies and individual officers. These entities must be held responsible if they overstep legal boundaries or manipulate investigations, misleading courts with vague and ambiguous accusations against journalists for their journalistic endeavors.

This heartfelt appeal has garnered support from influential organizations such as Digipub News India Foundation, Indian Womenโ€™s Press Corps, Press Club of India New Delhi, Foundation for Media Professionals, Network of Women in Media (India), Chandigarh Press Club, National Alliance of Journalists, Delhi Union of Journalists, Kerala Union of Working Journalists, Brihanmumbai Union of Journalists, Free Speech Collective Mumbai, Mumbai Press Club, Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists, Press Association, Guwahati Press Club, and Indian Journalistsโ€™ Union.

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